Newspaper references to Baird 1880

The Herald Tuesday Evening August 10th 1880
A scene was presented in the City Watch-house this morning which maybe characterised as one of the most pitiable ever witnessed there. Charles Baird, an ex-member of the Victorian police, spent the night in a cell as a vagrant. His limbs have been paralysed through an injury received in his public duty, whilst arresting an offender. The Government recognised this by a pension of £49 a year. He obtained admission to the Benevolent Asylum, but owing to a dispute with the authorities he was, after due notice turned out yesterday. The Asylum people sent him in a cab to the Russell street Police Barracks. Thus they cast him in the hands of the police authorities, who transferred him to the lock-up. His name appeared on the City Police Court list this morning. "No. 2, Charles Baird. vagrancy." his next companion on the list being "Thomas Lewis fowl stealing".
Baird bore himself with wonderful composure. Sergeant Mooney had endeavored to make him as comfortable as possible by giving him a separate cell, into which his wheelchair was brought having to be taken to pieces and put together again to get it through the door. On this chair the poor fellow sat throughout yesterday afternoon and last night, during weary hours as a prisoner, just as felons are treated with nothing but the bare floor, the whitewashed walls and the barred grill through which the light entered. At night he was left cheerless and solitary to his own reflection, in order that he might ask himself . "For what crime am I, an honorable ex-member of the Victorian police force, locked up here as a felon?"

The members of the police force this morning were most keenly touched with the spectacle and "Poor Charlie," said one. "This is what any of us might come to," said another. Truly such appeared to be the moral of the picture. All gathered around to help him. Even in the daytime the cell was so dimly lighted that a lantern had to be brought in, by the glimmer of which his chair was taken off it's wheels. As the poor helpless fellow lay there in the corner of the cell. From the waist upwards he is a fine strong looking bearded man, while his legs are as if dead. Nevertheless he is composed in his manner, and speaks with a firm manly voice.
At an early stage of the police business Baird was wheeled into court and Sgt Mooney read out the charge, saying the prisoner was accused of vagrancy. Mr Call P.M. was Chairman of the bench. He asked the prisoner what he had to say. Baird replied that he was glad to have the opportunity of making a statement, and hoped the bench would hear him. For fifteen years he had been a police officer. He met with an injury in the execution of his duty, which caused him to lie for a time in hospital. After a while he appeared to get better and a report was made that he might be able to undertake light duty by day. But he failed to get well. At last he was pensioned with the amount of £49 a year. After being some time in lodgings he entered the Benevolent Asylum, under an arrangement by which he was to pay an amount annually.

Mr Call said the bench could not enter upon these details. Baird was before them on a certain charge. He was asked to show that he had means of support, the bench learned that he received £49 a year. Could not he support himself on this without troubling the Benevolent Asylum at all? Baird: "Will your worship hear me out! I will not be long." Mr Call said they could not enter upon such matters as those into which Baird was leading them. He noticed that Mr Farmer one of the gentleman connected with the Benevolent Asylum was present. Mr Farmer said he was there only as a spectator and not representing the committee. Statements which were very unfair on the committee had appeared in the newspapers. The case was misrepresented. The committee's action in this business had been necessary in order to maintain discipline within the institution. Baird was admitted under an agreement to pay for his maintenance. There had been a discussion over admitting him, between some members of the committee thought that nobody who could pay ought to be admitted at all. Baird was allowed £1 a quarter, he applied for more in order that he might support a comrade's child. The committee thought he had no burden (or business) with the support of comrade's children and refused the application. Then he shifted his ground and said it was his sister's child. The committee had him brought before them and examined him. His answers were more unsatisfactory, and it was found that no reliance could be placed on what he said.

His pension was paid at the Treasury on an Honorary----. The Benevolent Asylum committee had been in the habit of drawing this allowance. In consequences of his disagreement with the committee Baird refused to sign orders. Therefore the payment was three quarters in arrears. Baird offered to sign for as much as he chose, but the committee would not let him have his own way. They represented to him that discipline must be maintained, and that he would have to leave the institution unless he signed the orders. The committee had no desire to deal harshly with him. They would probably have allowed him a little more, if he had met them in a proper spirit. At last they pointed out that he must either conform with their regulations or leave. He would do neither, but "set up his back" against the committee, in an offensive manner. At their last meeting they decided that he must sign or leave. He remained obstinate. The asylum authorities accordingly provided a cab yesterday, placed him in it, with his box and sent him to the Russell-street Barracks, which they thought preferable to sending him to the watch-house. They had asked him whether he desired to be set down anywhere else. He replied "No" and would not indicate any place where he should be left. What else could the committee do? He denied that they had been guilty of any inhumanity. The facts of the matter were grossly misrepresented. Two or three such troublesome cases had occurred within the asylum and unless the committee acted with a firm hand, they would find it absolutely impossible to maintain discipline.

Inspector Moutfort informed the bench that Baird came in a cab to the Russell-street Barracks and was deposited there. The officer in charge communicated with the Chief Commissioner of Police as to what should be done with the man. The reply was that he must be sent to the watch-house, and treated as kindly as possible. Mr Garton J.P., speaking from the body of the court, confirmed what had been stated by Mr Farmer. After the meeting of the committee, deciding on Baird's expulsion he went to Baird and spoke kindly to him pointing out the circumstances of the case, and how anxious the committee were to deal kindly with him, but they had to maintain their own authority. Baird was obstinate. Nothing could be done with him at all. The committee had really been most patient.

Mr Garton's manner was very warm in these remarks and showed that he felt strongly. Constable Bysouth deposed to the arrest of Baird as a vagrant, which was the only course open, he brought Baird to the watch-house in the cab and had the charge entered up. After these various statements, Baird said he still wished to continue his remarks. If the bench only listened to his explanation he would be very thankful. What he required money for was to pay for the chair, in which he now sat. Some of his old comrades in the police force had kindly collected money towards buying it. A balance remained to be paid. He told the committee so. Mr Farmer said that Baird had stated that he wanted the money to pay for the chair, after he said he wanted it for other purposes. Baird was proceeding to make further explanation when Mr Call stopped him. The bench really had no right to enter upon these matters at all.
The sole question before them was whether Baird had means of support. Would Baird state if he had anywhere to go to? Baird replied he had not, and pressed his claim to make a statement, in answer to what Mr Farmer had said. Mr Call said the bench could not enter further into particulars with which they had nothing to do. The only course open for them was to remand the prisoner for a week. He would be sent to the goal and treated with every attention. He (Mr Call) would visit him there and listen to whatever he had to say. The prisoner would be brought before the court again next Tuesday.

Baird was then wheeled out of the court, he preserved a wholly motionless appearance, except that he kept rubbing his hands together, a rug was wrapped around his knees, his visage is of a dignified cast, with light brown hair and beard. He looks such a man as would be efficient and honest police officer while in health. He had been fifteen years in the force, thirteen of which he served in Melbourne with the highest character from his neighbours. His injuries were received at hands of several ruffians in Burke Street while he was endeavouring to keep public order and bring one to justice. An endeavor was made to keep him comfortable at the police station this forenoon, by seating him before the fire in the waiting room until the conveyance arrived to take him to gaol. Many unfavorable remarks had been passed on the action of the bench, in hearing a very full statement from Mr Farmer, and closing the prisoners mouth in reply. It is pointed out that any statement made by the prisoner in gaol to Mr Call cannot have the same force of publicity as if made in court this morning, with the representatives of the press in attendance. Baird is quite blind, this affliction having fallen on him just before his paralysis and the blindness resulted from the same injury.

The Herald Wednesday Evening August 11th 1880
The case of the man Baird expelled recently from the Benevolent Society, has created considerable discussion. Generally speaking the verdict is unfavorable to the Asylum authorities. This arises from the sympathy for the unfortunate man. But the position of the committee was a trying one. It is absurd to suppose that a body of a gentleman who devote their time to the management of a public institution have less sympathy with it's inmates than those who give neither time nor any money to any charity. But are ever ready to criticize the actions of the others who do both. Baird appears to have relied on his utterly helpless condition to quickly but persistently defy the authorities. There was no alternative for them but to be defied and see the ruler of the institution not at naught, or to take what appeared to be a most cruel step. They adopted the latter course and performed what must have been to every member of the committee a most disagreeable duty in the most kindly manner possible. Baird, it now appears has come to his senses and has done what he should have done at first. -placed himself in the hands of the committee. Whatever mistakes the committee of this or any other charitable institution may take, we can be assured that they are not wanting in kindliness or in sympathy with the inmates.

Same Newspaper: letter to the Editor.
An ounce of fact is worth a ton of theory. The case of the unfortunate man Baird, appears to me to be a most eloquent illustration of the necessity for such an institution as, I believe some kind people are trying to establish. I mean a hospital for incurables. Here is a man with some £50 per annum, a hopeless paralytic, the result of injuries received in the cause of society. He is thrust from that Beneveloent Asylum-not, I verily believe because the authorities of that place are more than ordinarily indifferent to human suffering, but because the rules of the institution do not apply to cases such as his. It matters not however, why the poor fellow has in his dire extremity, been much put about Now, here is your chance while your hearts are warm with pity and before the passage of time blunts them with indifference to give of your substance in aid of this project to support a hospital for incurables. Don't think that Baird's case is a solitary instance in proof of the urgent need of such a refuge. Bless you, I have met with a dozen examples, terrible in their woeful cruelty. Well come; there is room yet in our cap for another feather. Out with your purses and give to that Christian principle.